The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1887-06-30
HONORABLE CHAIRMAN
And Members of the Board of Trustees
of the N. G. College of Agricul-
tural and Mechanical Arts.

but a partial knowledge, [ was glad to
avail myself Of the opportunity offered,
in connection with Messrs. Fries and
Dabney, to see something of the prac-
tical working Of a number Of the best
agricultural and mechanical colleges
and training schools of the country. [
regret that the limited time interven-
ing has prevented a combined report,
but the separate reports may be of use
hereafter.
We did not visit any trade schools
on the one hand, nor polytechnic
schools on the other, but confined our
limited time to that practical and
broad form of education taught in the
intermediate institutions, where prin-
ciples and real work are combined,
where theory and practice 60 hand in
hand.
Our first stopping place was the
Miller's School, in Virginia, a magnif-
cent institution ably presided over by
Mr.. Vawters, who is probably known
to some of the members of the Board
of Agriculture. This school is pecu
liarly fortunate in being blessed with
a princely endowment, consisting of
$1,000, 900, left by the late Mr.. Miller,
a banker of Lynchburg, Va, to form
a school where agricultural and indus
trial training could be furnished to
the orphan and poor children exclu-
sively of Albemarle county, Va.
AS the study of agriculture is just
being introduced, we had no oppor-
tunity Of getting any practical infor-
nation there. The trustees have re-
Gently engaged a professor of agricul-
ture or superintendent of the farm,
who will have charge of 1000 acres,
which includes a magnificent stretch
of meadow land lying Immediately in
front Of the eminence on which the
superb school buildings are located.
From the means at their command,
and from the intelligent enthusiasm
manifested in the work, handsome re-
suits may be expected from this de-
partment in the ear future. The
mechanical feature has been developed
for some time and has in a measure to
be suited to the kind of material ad-
mltted for training.
Drawing the pupils from one county
alone, from the two classes-orphans
and children not able to pay tuition,
the faculty in the qualifications for
entrance, are obliged to conform to
the simplest rules and to admit the
pupils at an early age, and are neces-
STATED to supply in large part the
ground work of a common school
education. This is done thoroughly
and the scholars prepared for
entrance.
The dormitories, chapel, class rooms
and drawing room, cooking and sup:
ply rooms are all in the main building.
In addition to English and mathemat-
les, drawings, physics, printing and
telegraphlng are also taught in this
building. Chemistry is taught with
botany in a separate building.
The departments of carpentry and
iron work are also in a separate build
ing in which are the boilers and en-
gines.
The most thorough system pervades
this department as in all parts Of this
school indeed the system employed
in carrying out the course of instruc-
ton mapped out is admirable.
The principal of the mechanical de-
partment is a young mar educated in
the school, who is a fine fellow, we'll
equipped for his position.
Without considering myself a com
petent Judge, [ am obliged to feel that
the course in this department of the
Miller's SCHOOL, is too limited. would
name three points which to me seem
open to objection. They are first, a
too limited training of the hand alone
in wood work. | consider this as the
basis, which should be we'll under
stood. The scholars are advanced
quickly to machines which do their
work for them. [ have been reliably
informed that there are in a number
of shops men who are expert at me-
chanic work who cannot saw a board
by hand decently. Machines are not
omnipresent, but the hand is every
where and should have careful train
ing.
?. Scholars in machine work are
put at once to one particular branch of
work, the making furniture for the
market, giving somewhat of a trade
school form of education. This, how
ever, is not open to very serious objec-
49, IL